Joining nationwide trend, Kansas Legislature advances ‘Parents Bill of Rights’
Driven by a wave of conservative anger and suspicion over classroom curriculum and COVID-19 precautions, the Kansas Legislature advanced a parents bill of rights and new school choice policies Tuesday, but fell short of a veto-proof supermajority.
The Senate voted 24 to 15 to approve what proponents call a “parents bill of rights” and 23 to 16 to require public schools to accept out-of-district students if they have space.
The measures still need approval by the House and a signature from Gov. Laura Kelly. Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning, Kelly did not say whether she would veto the policies but slammed the “Bill of Rights” proposal as a “teacher demoralization act.”
“We have a shortage of teachers in the state of Kansas,” Kelly said. “We should not be doing anything that further demoralizes or teachers and drives them out of the profession.”
“This is the worst thing we can possibly be doing.”
Versions of a “Parents Bill of Rights” have been pursued in Republican-controlled state houses nationwide as the party seeks to capitalize on parental anger over COVID-19 restrictions and suspicions about curricula with an increasing emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Critical race theory, a college and graduate-level framework for studying the impact of racism on American institutions, is not taught in Kansas schools. But the term has been captured as a catch-all phrase for allegations that K-12 schools are promoting an anti-white ideology, a charge that teachers and administrators categorically reject.
The policy approved in the Senate establishes 12 rights, many of which public school advocates say are already afforded to parents.
These include the right to be informed of curriculum, to speak at public meetings and direct their children’s religious education. It also says no instruction should “adhere to any idea that violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964” and that districts won’t contract for teacher professional development with providers that “promote racially essentialist doctrine.”
Districts would be required to develop policies to ensure parents have access to curriculum information and can challenge it.
“Parents in Kansas just want to know what direction are we going for the education of my child, how can I participate, how can my voice be heard?” said Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Louisburg Republican.
Opponents said the measure was unnecessary and would harm the relationship between parents and schools, rather than help it. Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes referred to it as a “bullies bill of demands.”
“If we have this onslaught of anti-public education bills passing, that’ll impact our students. And it will definitely impact our educator workforce. And we should care about that, because people come to Kansas for our schools,” Angie Powers, a teacher and director of the Olathe National Education Association, previously said. “Our schools are the economic driver. And if our schools are weakened, which is the goal of these bills, we will see a business impact to that.”
The version passed by the senate does not go as far as a similar measure under consideration by the Kansas House.
“It sets the appropriate tone, whereas school districts will determine how they’re going to make (information) available,” Baumgardner said. “If you’re already doing it, stick with your process unless there’s a problem. If you’re not doing it, come up with a process.”
The House version, in addition to establishing rights for parents, would require teachers to post extensive lists of materials used in the classroom each year.
“Many of these things may not be in law but they’re certainly very common practice,” Mark Tallman, a lobbyist for the Kansas Association of School Boards said of the Senate Bill.
Meanwhile, the organization testified against the House version because of the vast reporting requirements.
Though the House version has yet to gain a floor vote, Brittany Jones, a lobbyist for Kansas Family Voice, said she viewed the Senate version as having a clearer path to becoming law.
“We think it would be ridiculous for any person who was elected to represent the state of Kansas to vote against that bill, especially the Senate version,” Jones said. “Whichever one gets that done for parents.”
Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican who chairs the House K-12 Budget committee, said she prefers the structure provided in the House bill.
“I think it would be easier for stakeholders to see similar formats,” Williams said.
The Senate also approved a policy requiring school districts to establish capacity limits and to make any excess space available to out-of-district students. Districts currently have discretion over whether out-of-district students can enroll.
The House is scheduled to take up their version of the policy Tuesday.
Several Kansas City area school leaders have opposed the bill, arguing that requiring districts to open enrollment to students beyond district boundaries is an encroachment on local control. Many Johnson County school officials say that their districts already struggle with logistical challenges as enrollment grows throughout the school year, as the housing market and population booms in the suburbs.
“The nature of the strong business climate in Johnson County, with many businesses reporting the quality of schools as a primary determinant in locating there, leads to our districts having a number of new residents enrolling throughout the year. We, therefore, do not know in August whether we have sufficient openings for non-resident students,” superintendents for the Olathe and Blue Valley districts wrote in a joint testimony.
But proponents said it leveled the playing field and offered more opportunities for students.
“This is a fair approach to this. It pretty much just says if you’ve got capacity and you’re not a growing district you will allow those students,” said Sen. Brenda Deitrich, a Topeka Republican.
This story was originally published March 22, 2022 at 11:11 AM.
